The Lincoln-Way Marching Band is a marching band comprised of three schools from across the Lincoln-Way High School District 210. Founded in 2017 following the closure of the Lincoln-Way North High School, the ensemble follows the motto of "One Band. One Sound. One Community." The ensemble is an Illinois Marching Band Championships class 6A Champion and Grand Champion, a Bands of America Regional and Super Regional Finalist and was a participant in the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Lincoln-Way Marching Band was set to make their Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in the 2020 Parade, marching down the streets of Manhattan as they represented the great state of Illinois. Wesley Whatley, creative director of Macy's, complimented the band's prestige and excellence, saying “As the reigning Illinois Marching Band Grand Champions, Lincoln-Way is clearly a band of the highest caliber.”
The group was one of nine regional marching bands selected to make an appearance in the famed procession, out of the more than 80 applicants. Director of bands, Bert Johnson, said that the group was "truly honored, overwhelmed and humbled by being selected to perform in this magnificent national Thanksgiving Day tradition."
Due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the band's invitation to the 2020 Macy's Parade was deferred to the 2021 procession. In their place, several local performance groups and musical ensembles provided entertainment for the reimagined event.
The Lincoln-Way Marching Band's 34th Street performance was an excerpt from their 2021 competitive program "Metamorphosis", set to the music Aurora Awakens by John Mackey.